Sara Botsford

Sara Lucille Herndon Botsford, 70, passed away at her home on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. She was born in Birmingham, Ala. on May 14, 1942 to Alfred Alejo Herndon and Lucille Kuykendall Herndon and christened at the First Methodist Church in Montevalle, Ala. Sara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, stepmother, aunt and sister to her two brothers and family. She will be missed deeply and will always be remembered. Sara and her family moved to Hot Springs (Truth or Consequences), N.M. in 1949. She attended Hot Springs Elementary and graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1960. She later went on to achieve a bachelor's and master's degree in early education. For 25 years she taught 2nd and 3rd grades at University Hills Elementary and Tombaugh Elementary. Teaching was all she ever wanted to do and she was filled with much joy being able to make a difference in the lives of children. In 1989, on Nov. 7, Sara married James Lawrence Botsford who is a retired professor of biology at NMSU. She had many friends and acquaintances and will be missed in the community. She maintained her friendships with co-teachers through the years, as well as, with others who were important to her. She was most certainly the glue that held the family together. She loved teaching, enjoyed cooking, reading, crossword puzzles and held family members close to her. Sara was preceded in death by her father and mother, Alfred and Lucille Herndon. She is survived by her husband James Botsford, her children William Thomas Moore and Lori Suzanne Moore, grandchildren Derek Thomas Moore, Zachary Isaiah Moore, her stepchildren Ann Fortin, Marcie Jones, and step grandchildren Claire, Natalie, Noah, Lauren, Jacob, Rachel and Sadie. As Sara requested, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 1701 Missouri Ave., Las Cruces, NM on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012. Donations can be made to the Optimist Club of Las Cruces, Las Cruces, NM, P.O. Box 16406, 88004-6406 in lieu of flowers and gifts. Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home. To send condolences go to www.lapaz-grahams.com.